Grover to play on

Retired Fremantle defender Antoni Grover has decided to play on for another season with Subiaco in the WAFL.

Grover, who played 202 games for Fremantle between 1999-2012, announced his AFL retirement late last year and had remained non-committal on whether he would play on at WAFL level.

The 32-year-old said his competitive nature had urged him go around again.

“I’d probably say that last year didn’t end well for me on a personal level either at Fremantle and Subiaco.

“It was a disappointing end to the season for Subiaco.”

Grover originally came down to at Subiaco aged 17 when he asked if he could train with the Colts.

He was then drafted by Fremantle at pick 32 of the 1998 rookie draft.

The utility defender played 17 games for South Fremantle in 1999 after he was forced to move to the port club under the then alignment model.

However, when that ended in the 2000 season, Grover returned to Subiaco and has played 34 games for Subiaco, which included 12 in 2012.

“I still remember the day I walked onto Leederville and asked the Colts coach if I could have a run,” Grover said.

“It still feels like I’ve come to a new club because there are so many new faces in the group of 50 or 60 training at the moment and I probably haven’t met all of them.

“It’s exciting to see all the young guys and you can see some of them are a bit nervous, but some sort of take the bull by the horns and I think that with my experience and leadership I can help develop them.

“I’d like to have an impact on-field because ultimately that’s what you’ll be judged on, but obviously my leadership and experience is significant.”

Grover will make up a strong Subiaco defensive unit, which includes fellow former AFL-listed players Joey Daye, Darren Rumble, Aidan Parker as well as the experienced Ben Randall and Chris Phelan.

“I think the strength of the backline you talk about is the size and the ability to play on multiple opponents for all of us,” Grover said.

“So I wouldn’t think that would be too stretched at all whether it’s talls or smalls and also if you get stuck on your teammates opponent you’d be very confident that he could do the job.“